The Elements of Marie Curie

We all know the legendary name, Madame Marie Sklodowska Curie, one of the most iconic figures in the history of science. But tonight, we dive into a story that's rarely told: the extraordinary legacy she left behind, not just in the lab, but in the lives of the brilliant women she mentored and inspired. Her influence reaches far beyond Nobel Prizes and groundbreaking discoveries. Madame Curie paved a new path in the culture of science by opening doors and creating space for generations of women who wanted to pursue science as a way of life.

As a courtesy to our speaker, our door policy stipulates that all guests must arrive before 7pm.

Dava Sobel is the author of the international bestseller Longitude, the bestselling Pulitzer Prize finalist Galileo’s Daughter, The Planets, A More Perfect Heaven, And the Sun Stood Still, and The Glass Universe, and co-author of The Illustrated Longitude. She is the recipient of the Individual Public Service Award from the National Science Board, the Bradford Washburn Award form the Boston Museum of Science, the Kumpke-Roberts Award from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and a Guggenheim Fellowship, among other honors. A former New York Times science reporter, and currently editor of the “Meter” poetry column in Scientific American, she lives on Long Island.

This lecture is part of our Science and Society speaker series, which explores the history of science embedded in our everyday lives. We invite scientists, historians, policymakers, and educators for engaging, in-depth conversations that expand our perspectives. Program formats include lectures, interviews, roundtables, and book launches. Science and Society events are curated for an adult audience, fostering curiosity, conversation, and interactivity. Each evening concludes with a free reception with the speakers.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Science History Institute, 315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, United States